Do movements as the words suggest.

Play the rhythms with instruments or body percussion.

Clap all 4 rhythms. Click on a square to take one away.
Clap all 4 rhythms, including the missing one. Click on a square to take another away.
Clap all 4 rhythms, including the missing ones. Click on a square to take another away.
Clap all 4 rhythms, including the missing ones. Click on a square to take another away.
Invite 4 students to help you write the complete rhythm on the board. (Each does one square)
Ask the students if they can identify the song.

Have the students read the rhythm of the song from the projectable slides. Phrase form is aabc. You could read the melody from projectable slides or you could show the contour of the melody with arm motions.

Form a single circle. Join hands and raise arms to form windows. Choose one student to be the bluebird. The bluebird weaves in and out the windows. On the words, “Takes him a partner, ” the bluebird takes a partner and hops up and down in the circle. Now both students are bluebirds and the game continues until the entire class has been involved. The last student chosen becomes the first bluebird when the game repeats.

Have the students show the phrases with arm motions. Discuss which phrases are the are the same and which are different. Phrase form for this song is abac.

Show the students the melody on the tone ladder. Teach the students to read the melody from the tone ladder or from your hand signs.

“Let Us Chase the Squirrel” is a chase game. Have the students that are playing the game make a circle. Choose one student to be the “hunter” and one student to be the“squirrel.” The hunter breaks out of the circle at the end of the song, and chases the squirrel around the circle, trying to tag the squirrel before the squirrel reaches the hole that the hunter made in the circle.

Denise Tip: I choose the “squirrel” and “hunter” from my immediate right. After they have had their turn, they join the circle on my left side. They remain part of the circle, and I know who has had turns. We play this game around a large tree in the school yard.

Teach the Orff arrangement for this song. Set the barred instruments up using the notes FGA CD. Improvise melodies between repetitions of the song. If you don't have Orff instruments students could create their own accompaniment, or create rhythmic or melodic ostinatos to accompany this song.